A number of eastern brown snakes have been sighted in the Campbelltown region this month. Picture: Phillip Rogers
CAMPBELLTOWN, AUSTRALIA – She is used to helping lost, found and injured pets but Jody Scott recently got the shock of her life when an eastern brown snake just appeared in her backyard just yesterday.
The Ruse resident, who is the administrator of the Campbelltown Lost Found and Injured Pets Facebook page, raced outside at 11am when she saw spotted cat, Kaiden, going face-to face with the venomous reptile, which is the world’s second most deadliest snake.
“I was inside and I saw the cat all puffed up in the backyard,” Ms Scott said.
“I thought I should go and check to make sure there’s not a snake out there.
Kaiden the cat exhausted after going face-to-face with an eastern brown snake at Ruse.
“It was horrifying. I screamed and yelled like a pork chop and grabbed the cat and ran inside like a two-year-old. It was rearing up at my cat.”
Ms Scott’s suburban property is backed onto Smiths Creek Reserve.
She said a red-bellied black snake visited her property back about four months ago.
“I can deal with red-bellied black snakes but not brown snakes, especially when it’s after my cat,” she said.
“I’ve been told that if a brown snake does feel threatened, it will attack. They are supposed to be really dangerous.”
Despite the cooler weather of early autumn, these reptiles are on the move with a number of reports of snake sightings all across the region recently.
A carpet python was found inside a box in a garage at Ruse at 10.30am yesterday.
A yellow-faced whip snake found at the front door of a Rosemeadow house.
Then on March 20, an eastern brown snake was spotted on a rural property at Wedderburn.
Kyle James Howard-Smith, of Rosemeadow, found a yellow-faced whip snake right at her front door on Sunday.
“I found a snake at my front door step,” she posted on Facebook.
“No idea what kind it is and I’m not a fan of snakes.”
People are advised to keep a safe distance from a snake, monitor their movements, and call a licensed snake catcher if needed.
Campbelltown’s licensed snake catcher Les Shearim said that snakes would go into hibernation when it was 25C and under.
“It’s still warm which is why they are still about and they are getting their last feed,” Mr Shearim, who has some 30 years of experience of catching snakes, said.
“Eastern brown snakes, red-bellied black snake, death adder snakes, diamond pythons and the odd escape of a pet snake are the most common in the Campbelltown area.”
LES’ TIPS FOR BEING SNAKE WISE:
■ Make sure that your lawn is moved;
■ If you happen to have a wood pile, keep it as far away from the house as possible;
■ Get rid of trash around the house;
■ If you see a snake, bring your pets inside;
■ Do not threaten, disturb, annoy or throw anything at all at the snake.
MORE TIPS TO KEEP SNAKE WISE
■ Every snake should be treated as if it is venomous;
■ Do not try to catch or kill a snake at all — 90 per cent of snakebites occur when people attempt to catch or kill snakes;
■ If you see a snake make sure to give it plenty of space to make an escape — snakes will usually only attack if they feel threatened or trapped;
■ Clean up potential habitats around your home, such as aviaries, dog kennels and poultry pens where food attracts mice, and in turn the smell of mice attracts snakes;
■ Remove all debris and clutter from yards, keep lawns mowed and slash tall grass along fences;
■ Ensure gaps under doorways are well sealed and any holes or gaps in walls fixed;
■ Wearing long pants and solid footwear will provide at least some protection when bush walking or working outdoors;
